Archive | February 2024

Suspicious Minds by Sherri Kukla

Feb7

Greater Love

Suspicious Minds by Sherri Kukla is a compelling contemporary mystery. It is the first book in A Dry Brook Novel series which promises to be good.

I was engaged with the story from the start. I met up with familiar faces from The Moto Mysteries series which immediately put me on familiar ground.

We see the importance of trusting God. “I’m trusting God to see me through this.” God sees the end from the beginning. He can be trusted even when life makes little sense. It makes no sense without God.

God is the God who calms the raging storm within us. We can receive His peace even when all around us in in turmoil.

Prayer is important. “Pray. He felt it more than heard it.” When God tells us to pray, we must pray and not question Him. There may be people who depend on our prayers in their situation.

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The World Of Sylvanian Families

Feb7

So Delightful

The World Of Sylvanian Families is the most delightful and beautiful hardback book that celebrates over thirty five years of the Sylvanian families worldwide.

The Sylvanian families started in Japan in 1985 and was introduced to the UK in 1987. From small beginnings it has grown massively to even include theme parks and restaurants.

Over the years more and more families have been introduced, as well as transport, houses and much more.

This book is simply beautiful. It is a keepsake that children (and adults) will want to visit again and again.

We hear about the origins of Sylvania in a story and are introduced to all the characters.

Detailed maps lay out the places in Sylvania, and then we focus in on the individual buildings.

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The Paris Spy’s Girl by Amanda Lees

Feb7

So Brave

The Paris Spy’s Girl by Amanda Lees is a simply marvellous historical novel that I just could not put down. Though fictional, it is grounded in fact.

The novel is set in Paris in the latter part of World War II. We do ‘hear’ snippets from 1938 as we learn what led up to the character being here.

We witness the bravery needed to be an agent in Paris for Britain during the war. There were also skills needed to extract information and then pass it on.

There appears to be a double agent as every time agents parashoot into France, the Nazis are waiting for them. The truth is most horrifying and almost unbelievable.

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My Sister’s Baby by Louise Guy

Feb7

It Takes A Village

My Sister’s Baby by Louise Guy is a beautiful, contemporary novel about family.

Families are messy, complicated and beautiful. Families support each other and love unconditionally. Families will make a way when there seems no way… but what happens when families keep secrets, harbor resentments and deal in deception?

Families come in all shapes and sizes. We meet a ‘normal’ family within the book.

All the characters were realistic and easy to empathise with. They all demand an emotional response from the reader. I did have a favourite character – and that was Mandy.

As the novel opens, the family is dealing with the premature loss of a father. Grief is raw and grief is palpable. We all deal with grief in different ways.

The family is no stranger to problems. There are three daughters. A childhood illness left the youngest daughter mentally impaired. During the teenage years, the other two daughters were hospitalized as the one donated a kidney to the other. Their relationships are complicated, as in any family but love under pins it all. Love is greater than secrets, lies, unforgiveness and resentment. Love stands tall.

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